Lathe.



R. K. LE BLOND 6; W. F. GROENE. l LATHE.

APPLIOATION FILED JUNI: 1, 1909.

980,971. Patented Jan. 1o, 1911.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

R. K. LE BLOND & W. F. GROENE.

LATHE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 1. 1909. A 980,971. Patented Jan.10,1911.

, n 3 SHEETS-SHEBT 2.

[8 (lx @/Z l Zi' G l f l dd f) r 1 l Il 1 G l [9 mi.

R. K. LE BLOND & W. F. GROENE.

LATHB.

APPLICATION FILED .TUNE l, 1909.

980,971. Patented Jan. 10,1911.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

l'gg. 5.

ik@ i TED STATES PATENT FFTQE.

RICHARD K. LE BLOND AND WILLIAM F. GROENE, 0F CINCINNATI, OHIO, ASSIGNOBS TO R. K. LE BLOND MACHINE TOOL CO., OF CINCINNATI, OHIO, A CORPORATION 0F OHIO.

LATHE.

Patented Jan. itl, 1931i.,

Application led'J'une 1, i909. SerialNo. 499,540.

To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that we, RICHARD K. Ln

BLoND and lVILLiAM F. GROENE, of Cincinnati, county of Hamilton, and State of Ohio, have invented a new and useful lmprovement in Lathes, of which the following is a specification.

This invention pertains to certain new and useful improvements in machine tools, and relates more particularly to the apron or gear mechanism which carries the feed gears and controls the automatic feeds.

One object of the invention is the production of means for obtaining automatic feeds, both longitudinally and across the machine.

A further object is to provide a single friction device for controlling both the longitudinal and cross feeds.

A further object is to provide improved means for connecting the friction device with the operative parts.

Another object is to provide an improved form of box apron.

in carryiug out our invention, the various feeds are obtained throuffh a suitable drive pinion which is rotated in either direction by any suitable means. Said drive pinion is loosely mounted on its shaft and may be connected up with a suitable power transmitting pinion oy means of a friction device.

The power transmitting pinion is adapted to engage a gear carrying a small pinion, both being mounted upon a slip stud, so that said gear may be thrown into and out of mesh with a suitable pinion adapted to drive the cross feed screw. `When said gear is disengaged fromthe cross feed screw, the small pinion is thrown into mesh with a rack wheel which is adapted to move the carriage of the machine in any suitable manner.

In the accompanying drawings Figure l is a front elevation illustrating our improved apron. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view thereof. F ig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view. Fig. 4 is a rear view, partly in section. Fig. 5 is a partial section of the bed and carriage, illustrating the apron in position. Figs. 6 and 7 are details.

Referrin to the drawings :-A designates a feed rod aving mounted thereon a sleeve a, provided at each end with a beveled pinion a", a2. Said sleeve is driven by a key a3 and can be shifted by means of a handle a connected to said sleeve in any suitable manner. The pinions a', a2 areA arranged to mesh with a large bevel gear B looselyT mounted on a shaft b, supported near the bottom of the casing C. On said shaft is mounted a sleeve b provided with a 'friction disk b2 adapted to engage the rear face of the gear B, said sleeve being shifted longitudinally upon shaft b by means of a fric tion knob b3.

Keyed or otherwise secured to the shaft Zi is an elongated pinion d which meshes with a gear wheel D carrying a pinion cl and mounted on a slip stud or shaft (Z2. The gear D is adapted to mesh with a pinion d on the cross feed screw d4. `When the stud o1' shaft (Z2 is shifted the gear D is disengaged from pinion Z3 and the pinion ai is caused'to mesh with the rack wheel (Z5, carrying and driving a rack pinion d6, which in turn meshes with the rack Z7 on the bed. The rack pinion (Z5 also meshes with a stud pinion d8 actuated by a hand f wheel d,

whereby the carriage may be shifted by hand.

In doing regular work, requiring cross feeding, the friction knob b3 is turned, engaging the friction disk with the bevel gear B. This drives the elongated pinion al, which in turn drives the gear D, and the latter drives the cross feed pinion da, thus revolving the cross feed screw and imparting an automatic cross feed to the tool. This feed may be engaged and disengaged bythe friction knob b3. If the length feed is'required, the gear D is disengaged from the cross feed pinion d3, bringing the pinion d into mesh with the rack wheel (Z5. This in turn drives the rack pinion d meshing .with the rack d?, giving the vlength feeds, which are also controlled by the friction knob if. It will be understood that the various feeds are reversed by means of handle a4; whereby sleeve a is shifted to bring either one of the pinions a', aiinto en agement with the gear B. v"When said hand e is moved to the right, it brings pinion af into engagement with said gear, and when moved to the left, the pinion a2 .is brought into mesh, thus reversing the entire movement of the apron.

It will be noted that the casing C is cast in one integral piece with the bearings for the, feed rod and lead screw. In ordinary practice, box aprons are bolted together, and composed` of two or more pieces, using a ith `feed shaft and the feed screw at the same time, the shifting lever a* which moves the sliding sleeve is locked in the intermediate position by the movement of the slide il) car rying the split nut F which connects with feed screw il. Said slide is provided with a recess e which engages lever a5 in such manner that movement of said lever is impossible when the feed screw is connected, andconnection with the feed sci-ew is impossible when the feed rod A is operating. The split nut is operated by a member G connected to a handle G.

Having thus fully described our invention, what we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is zl. An apron for machine tools, comprising a drive gear, means for impart-ing power thereto, a single power transmitting pinion mounted on the shaft of' said drive gear, a clutch for connecting said gear and pinion, cross feed mechanism, length feed mechanism, and means for transmitting power from saidipinion to said feed mechanisms.

2. an apron for machine tools, comprising a drive gear, a shaft upon which the same is mounted, a sleeve mounted onwsaid shaft and provided with a friction disk adapted to engage said gear, a single power transmitting pinion mounted on said sleeve, cross feed mechanism, length feed mechanism, and means for transmitting power from said piliion to said feed mechanisms.

3. An apron. for machine tools, comprising a drive' gear, means for imparting .power thereto, means 'for reversing the same, a single power transmitting pinion mounted on theshaft of said drive gear, a clutch for connecting said gear and pinion, cross feed mechanism, length feed mechanism, and means for transmitting power from said pinion to said feed mechanisms.

.4. An apron for machine tools, comprising a feed gear havin a pinion connected thdrewith, a cross feed pinion adapted to mesh with said gear, a rack wheel adapted to mesh with said pinion when said gear is disengaged from said cross feed, said gear and pinion being manually sh1ftable,'a power transmission gear for riving said feed gear,

and ineens for controlling the application of power to said transmission gear.

5. An apron for machine tools, comprising a feed gear having a pinion connected there with, a cross feed pinion adapted to mesh with said gear, a rack wheel adapted to mesh with said pinion when said gear is disengaged from said cross feed, said gear and pinion being manually shiftable, a drive gear, an elongated power transmitting pin ion supported by the shaft of said drive gear and meshing with said feed gear, and means 1 for connecting and disconnecting said power gear and transmitting pinion.

(3. An apron for machine tools, comprising a feed gear having a pinion connected therewith, a cross feed pinion adapted to mesh with said gear, a rack wheel adapted to mesh with said pinion when said gear is disengaged from said cross feed, said gear and pinion being manually shiftable, a drive gear, a shaft on which said gear is mounted, a sleeve mounted on said shaft and provided with a friction disk adapted to engage said gear, a pinion carried by said sleeve and meshing with said feed gear, and means for shifting said sleeve.

7. An apron for machine tools comprising a feed gear having a pinion connected therewith, a slip stud or shaft on which said gear isv mounted, a cross feed pinion adapted to mesh with said gear, a rack wheel adapted to mesh with said pinion 'when said. gear is disengaged from said cross feed, said gear and ,f pinion being manually. shiftable, a power transmission gear for driving said feed gear, and means for controlling the application of power to said transmission gear.

8. An apron for machine tools, com rising a cross feed mechanism, a length fee inech anism, a drive gear, a single power transmitting pinion for impartinflf power to either feed mechanism, and a sing e friction mem ber for connecting said drive gear and pinion.

In testimony whereof we hereunto set our hands this 29 day of May 1909, in the presence of two attesting witnesses.

mona-en n. Le niioiin. wiiiLiaM ii. enoniin.

Witnesses:

Fimo. LE BLOND, JOHN A. Le BLOND. 

